Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine

The LA class serves as the backbone of the United States submarine force. The LA class is an attack submarine, whose mission is to engage enemy surface ships and submarines, perform covert operations, and to protect carrier battlegroups (CVBGs), which are the primary unit of US naval/military power.

There are two main types of submarines that the United States Navy operates; the 'boomers' like the Ohio Class Missile Submarine, and the SSN attack subs. The boomers are strategic missile submarines, and use the SSBN designation. Their mission is to go on 'strategic deterrence' patrols, and avoid contact. The LA class and other SSNs have a mission completely opposite from this; theirs, in addition to their other duties, is to seek out enemy submarines, and destroy them before they may launch their missiles. An example of an SSBN would be the USS Alabama as seen is Denzel Washington/Gene Hackman's movie Crimson Tide, and an example of an SSN would be the LA class USS Dallas from Tom Clancy's Hunt for Red October. The differences between the two missions is illustrated in these movies.

The LA class is capable of missions lasting many months. The only limit to the length that a LA class sub may be underway, or underwater is that of the food supplies, and the tolerance of the crew. The nuclear reactor (which puts the 'N' in SSN) provides massive amounts of power for many years, which allows the ship to convert sea water to oxygen for breathing, and fresh water for food preperation, drinking, showering, and toilets. The submarine service is reputed to recieve the best food in the US Navy, to help make up for the fact the crew is crammed into such a small space for such long periods of time. Typically, LA class subs carry ninety days worth of food. Before a sub leaves port, every single nook and cranny is completely filled with food and other consumables.

Aboard the LA class, like all military submarines (non-fictional ones, SeaQuest doesn't count), space is at a high premium. Some of the measures that are in place to make good use of the space is the hot bunking system, in which crew members share bunks. It's called 'hot bunking', because when you hit the bunk, it's still warm from the last person to use it. The bunks are six feet long, and three feet wide, and only two feet tall. The largest area of the ship is the Enlisted Mess, which serves as the ship's recreation/tv/movie/food/class room, and it can hold fifty or so at a time (almost half the crew).

One of the few places that women are not allowed to serve in the US Navy (and military in general) is aboard submarines. This is for very practical reasons, and does not reflect on any doubts as to the capabilities of women, but is a consideration for the morale of the men crewing a submarine; it is thought that by having women aboard a submarine would put undue stress upon the men, and over the course of months, may cause 'undesired results'. It has been speculated that an all-woman submarine crew would be perfectly acceptable, but the Navy lacks qualified women for such a project.

The LA class is capable of striking targets underwater with her mk-48 torpedoes, surface ships with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, and land targets with Tomahawk missiles. During the Gulf War of 1991, Los Angeles class subs were responsible for firing many of the Tomahawk missiles used against Iraq.

The USS Los Angeles (SSN-688) was ordered on January 8, 1971, and was comissioned on November 13, 1976. Since then, eighty-five Los Angeles Class ships have been delivered to the US Navy, with most of them still operating in 2002. With the Seawolf Class Attack Submarine, and Virginia Class Attack Submarine classes of attack submarine mired in cost overruns, politics, and skepticism about their necessity, the Los Angeles ships look as if they will form the backbone of the United States's submarine force well into the 21st century.

*'Official' speed only (the plus sign allows for a great deal of uncertainty). The top speed of the Los Angeles Class is not fully disclosed, although it is suggested to have been designed to operate as high as 35 knots submerged. A 30-or-so knot submerged speed is accepted as the unofficial top speed.

IMPROVED 688I Class
688I (the I means 'improved'!) ships are significantly quieter (Navy officials say ten times quieter than the original 688 series), make use of the BSY-1 Sonar Suite, and can lay mines from their torpedo tubes. The forward diving planes have been moved from the sail (or 'conning tower') to the bow, and the sail has been strengthened to help the 688Is break through ice.

*The USS Memphis (SSN-691) has been equipped to function as a testbed for new submarine technologies, systems, and equipment. The Memphis retains her combat capabilities.

**The USS City of Corpus Christ was given the 'City of' because US Navy officials did not want to have a sub with world wide exposure going around with a name that translates to 'Body of Christ'. Presumably the 'City of' part of the name is dropped in all but formal communications. (Thanks goes to NotFabio for this interesting tidbit!)